Improvement in combs



l @witch gieten itttent @ffice GALEB- FOSTER@ OF WAPPINGERS FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOI; ELIAS BROWN, OF THE SAME PLAGE.

y Letters Patent No. 73,884, dated January 28, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN 00h/IBS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Be it known that I, CALEB FOSTER of Wappingers Falls, in the county of Dutchess, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combs, which I term an Improved Round Comb and I do hereby declare that the followingl is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification. Y l

As is well known, in childrens round ce'nbs," it is mostimportant that the material-of which they are made should possess not only suilicient flexibility and elasticity to enable them to be adjusted, or to adjust and conform themselves to the contour and shape of the head when placed thereon, and, when removed, to resume their original shape, or nearly so, but also such an amount of strength and tenacity or cohesiveness that, in their use, they will notbe liable to break or snap apart, which would render them cntirelyuniit for further use or service. y

IIeretofore, in the manufacture of these combs, India rubber, vulcanized horn, and tortoise-shell hav the materials used, as they were exible and elastic to the proper degree; but, with each and all.oi` them, it been found in their use that they were and are liable, either to a greater or lesser extent, to break or s.. apart, without they were handled, and put on and taken'oi, with the utmost care by the wearer; and as they are adapted and intended more particularly for use by children, it is plainly obvious that it was and is impossible to secure that care in their handling necessary or requisite.

To produce a round comb that, while flexible and elastic, will possess suilicient strength and tenacity or cohesiveness to resist its breakage by use, however careless the user or wearer lmay be in handling and in pnt ting it on and taking it olf, is the object of the present invention, and by it is satisfactorily accomplished, the invention consistingr in making such a comb of steel, suitably tempered for elasticity and flexibility, combined with strength and tenacity or cohesivcncss, and in coating or covering, byenamelling, for protecting-theseveral surfaces of thccomb from corrosion, oxidation, or other deterioration, from the atmosphericelcrnents, or from the perspiration, or from contact with the hair of the head, or otherwise.

A round comb thus made possesses all thc requisites necessary, not only for the Special purpose for which it is used, but also for its durability and permanency in such use, by not being liableto break, whether care is or is not taken by` the wearer.

In the accompanying plate ot' drawings, my improved round comb is illustrated- Figure 1 being a side view of the same, and

Figurel a transverse vertical section, taken in the plane of the line :v a', tig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A, in the drawings, represents a' round comb, which, so far as its shape, width, and length, size of teeth B, Ste., may be similar to any of such combs now in use, and as manufactured by any of the ordinary modes, or from the materials heretofore used, and therefore in these respects needing no particular description herein. But this comb A, by my invention, is made as and in the manner following:

First take a plate or strip of steel, of the requisite width, length, and thickness, and in such plat-e cut the teeth desired in any proper manner. Then bend the strip into the proper round or curved shape, when temper the same in any manner suitable to give it the desired elasticity and ilexibility, as well as strength and tenacity, the process or mode of tempering forming no part ofthe present invention. The surfaces ofthe comb are then coated or'covered by cnalnelling to protect it against corrosion or oxidation, or other deterioration.

I deem it best to cover the surfaces of the comb by enamelling, the process which I prefer being that described in the schedule annexed to Letters Patent, and forming a part of the same, granted to Charles L. Robertson, of Providence, Rhode Island, under date of April 2, A. D. 1867, and numbered 63,428.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, as a new article of manufacture, isv An enamelled steel-comb, the teeth of which are punched out of asingle steel plate, and finished, substantially as herein described. v

The above specification of my invention signed by me,` this 16th day of May, A. D. 1867.

i `v CALEB FOSTER.

Witnesses:

E. M. YOUNG, N. M. DIsnoN. 

